Brewzilla / Digimash drain valve replacement?

[SanPancho]

just got the 65L digimash and getting ready to do first brew. would prefer to recirc during mash, as well as whirlpool via the cfc, etc. etc the thing i dont like is that the stock valve seems like it drops down to 3/8" ID or so, whereas the pump is 1/2" (nominal). dont like the idea of having restriction before the pump.

also, would prefer to have the pump attached directly to the valve, like you would with a normal NPT ball valve. but there's no way to attach it to the stock valve that comes with these systems. its a weird size thread, maybe 3/8 or something. not typical size for US. so i gotta do a piece of hose from the spout to the pump, etc.

i wouldnt hesitate to pull my weldless valve off my old kettle, except the digimash has a embossed/stamped depression in the vessel wall where the spout goes. im worried about being able to get my valve to fit, as it seems to be a larger /wider assembly (with washers, gasket, etc) than the depression in the wall of the vessel.

anybody ever swapped these out for a regular ball valve type outlet?

 

[okwesbrewing]

I swapped out the valve off of my 35L DigiMash setup since I couldn't thread my disconnects onto it. Got a kit from BargainFittings and the threaded coupler they provide is just to big to fit through the stock hole. I used an extra washer to seal it, could of enlarged the hole but the extra washer seems to be working. Have a 65L coming in this week and I probably will not even attempt to install the factory valve and go straight to another BargainFittings one I have sitting here already.